Casa Curro Montoya

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Shawn

curro montoya
I first came here a couple of years ago for a quick couple of tapas and quite liked it; enough to come back and try it again when I was back in Carmona recently, and I’m glad I did. It is in many ways a fairly typical neighbourhood bar, with a little terrace outside, a cosy bar area inside, and a dining room upstairs in a kind of split-level arrangement, with lots of dark wood, deep reds and photos on every available wall surface. But two things really made it stand out from the crowd.

First was the genuinely warm welcome from owners Germán and Bernardi, ably assisted by barman Rafael. Germán, whose grandfather (Curro Montoya) was a famous flamenco singer, moved to Carmona from his home town of Lora del Rio thirteen years to wed Bernardi (born in Carmona) and open the bar. As Bernardi told us with pride, this bar is a story of love. All this contributed to a fun and friendly atmosphere that had us chatting to our hosts, as well as with other customers at the bar.

Second (of course) was the food. That we stayed for six tapas shared between two (we don’t usually eat that much at one sitting) is a tribute in itself, but a couple of tapas deserve special mention. The grilled artichokes with jamón and olive oil were one of the best bites I’ve had in recent memory, and the morcilla de Burgos (black pudding with rice) on little toasts, topped with tomato jam, was superb. Fab grilled meats too. I loved everything about this bar and hope to be back soon.

Santa Maria de Gracia 11
Carmona
Tel 954 196 027
€ € €

Food 9 | Wine 8 | Service 9 | Ambiance 9

curro montoya (5)

curro montoya artichokes jamon grilled artichokes topped with jamón and drizzled with evoo

curro montoya mojama mojama (cured tuna) and manchego cheese on toast

curro montoya chocos super crispy and tender chocos (cuttlefish)

curro montoya morcilla grilled morcilla de Burgos with goat cheese and tomato jam

curro montoya presa grilled presa Ibérica

curro montoya secreto grilled secreto Ibérico

curro montoya (16) co-owners Bernardi and Germán, and barman Rafael
(photo of Curro Montoya in the background)

curro montoya (3)

curro montoya (4)

Bodega José María

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Shawn

jose maria (1)
This is a fun little neighbourhood sherry and tapas bar just outside the market in Carmona, and very pleasant to sit outside in the “plazueleta” in the cool of the evening. It was a bit of a quick stop so we asked our friendly waiter for recommendations. We skipped the snails (house speciality), but enjoyed an excellent carrillada with rosemary (seriously good), a generous and tasty grilled swordfish, and finished with chanquetas and chips (just okay). Cheap and cheerful, and I’d come here again.

You can also buy the house wines, and manzanilla, by the litre to take home. And apologies for blurry night pics, but it was night time.

Dominguez de la Haza 1
Carmona
Tel 637 557 571
€ €

Food 7 | Wine 6 | Service 7 | Ambiance 7

jose maria (7)

jose maria

jose maria chanquetes chanquetes with fried egg and chips

jose maria swordfish grilled swordfish with roasted peppers

jose maria carrillada tender rosemary carrillada (pork cheeks)

jose maria (6)

La Yedra

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Shawn

yedra

Just a stone’s throw from the elegant Parador Hotel in Carmona, La Yedra (the ivy) is certainly very pretty, with a shady outside patio, a small bar area, and an inside dining room. This latter was very pleasingly decorated in light tones, with a sloping wood-beamed roof, terracotta flooring and a window to the outside patio.

When we there it was deserted except for a couple of locals at the bar, and a little lacking in atmosphere, but this was a hot late July lunchtime; when we came past later in the cool of the evening the patio was quite full, and much more lively. Service was a little reserved and impersonal to start with, but warmed up with a little prompting. The food was good, but not quite the high quality I would have expected for the price (an exception was the little fried calamares on black toast – exquisite!).

General Friere 8
Tel 954 144 525
€ € € €

Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service7 | Ambiance 9

yedra (9)

yedra calamari squid ink toast, saffron alioli, crispy little calamari

yedra prawn veg tempura tempura veggies and prawns with soy-sesame sauce

yedra solomillo pork tenderloin with grilled padrón peppers, fried potatoes, mojo picón

KGB

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2015

kgb

KGB is just off Calle Larios, in the same spot where michelin super-star chef Dani García first started off the gourmet tapas scene in Málaga with La Moraga, and later Manzanilla. Up until recently run by Cordobés michelin-star chef Kisko García, KGB continues to offer fusion gourmet tapas with an every-changing selection of internationally-influenced dishes. New management will continue to spy-out new influences.

The menu hasn’t changed much, just a few tweaks here and there. Missing is the bulltail burger, served with a killer “au jus” mayonnaise, but it can still be found across the street at Wendy Gamba (also run by the KGB group). Favourites here include the innovative takes on patatas bravas and flamenquín, and the glazed pork rib taco.

The decor is modern, with clean lines and plenty of light from the big windows, contrasting nicely with views of the old traditional street outside. It’s busy and buzzy, so be sure to get there early to grab a spot at the bar.

Fresca 12
Málaga
Tel. 952 226 851
€€€€

Food 7 | Wine 8 | Service 7 | Ambiance 7

kgb (2)

kgb (3)

kgb botani Botani

“gastrobar estado puro” inspired patatas bravas

kgb mackerel blow-torched mackerel with soy, lime and herbs

kgb prawns king prawns in bric pastry with mint

croquetas de puchero

Ibérico stuffed chipirón (squid)

kgb (10) pork cheek burger with mayo and gorgonzola cheese

kgb cochinillo cochinillo onna bun with curry sauce and rocket

Iberian “pizza”

flamenquin flamenquín

kgb ribs glazed ribs with cabbage and avocado cream

kgb (1)

kgb (4)
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Updated August 2015

Saint Germain

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

Just off the Gran Vía near the Cathedral, Saint Germain is the kind of place I might have walked right by (and probably have done on previous visits to Granada) if not for the guidance of long-time resident, composer-musician and bon vivant John @benzo8. Noteworthy for its original tapas and extensive selection of wines, Saint Germain is also the only Proust-themed bar I have ever been to. There are photos, framed texts and other memorabilia pertaining to the famed French novelist on practically every surface that isn’t occupied by wine. Which is everywhere else. Wine bottles on the bar, in buckets, inside cabinets, on wall shelves, even caged inside a “chicken coop”.

It’s a cosy dimly-lit place with two small bar sections inside and a little sidewalk terrace. We mostly stuck with the complimentary tapas, though on one occasion ordered a house speciality, their own herbed beef saladilla, which is outstanding. Owner Juanjo is a whiz with sauces and his tapas are as interesting and innovative as they are delicious. Just go and leave yourself in the staff’s very capable hands when it comes to food and wine recommendations – you won’t be disappointed. Clearly popular with the locals, it fills up fast so try to get there early if you can. Fabulous wines, delicious tapas, wonderful ambiance – and excellent value for money.

Postigo Velutti 4
Granada
Tel 958 20 00 37
€ € €

Food 8 | Wine 9 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

saint germain (7)

saint germain (8) wine cabinet

saint germain chilled wines wine on the bar

saint germain salmorejo complimentary garlicky salmorejo

potato salad and tripe with garbanzos (complimentary)

saint germain pate complimentary housemade chunky paté

saint germain fishy piggy complimenary delicious spicy fishy stuff on toast… and a piggy cracker

saint germain tapa 1 complimentary mystery tapa 1

saint germain tapa 2 complimentary mystery tapa 2

crusty hot toasted saladilla filled with herbed beef, manchego, jamón

saint germain wines recommendations from our barman

saint germain tom Tom!

saint germain wines (2) wine on the wall

saint germain caged wines wine in chicken-coop style cages

saint germain (6)

Updated August 2018

Los Diamantes

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

Los Diamantes is one of Granada’s best known and popular bars, and rightly so. It’s one of those ultra-typical fried fish and seafood bars with a very basic style, but the quality of the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is buzzy and friendly. It’s also one of the places I like best in Granada for the “free” tapa. If you go with 3-4 friends you probably won’t need to order much beyond the complimentary dishes, which are very generous.

This original Los Diamantes in Calle Navas is still my favourite (there are now five locations, including a very similar one just up the street in Calle Rosario). But it can get very crowded, so best to arrive early if you want a seat or a prime place at the bar, otherwise you’ll probably end up in the street outside trying to hold your beer in one hand and eat with the other. Try balancing your plate on top of your glass to recreate the original meaning of the word tapas!

Navas 26
Granada
Tel 958 222 257
€ € €

Food 9 | Wine 6 | Service 7 | Ambiance 6

los diamantes tables

los diamantes coquinas garlicky coquinas (small wedge clams)

los diamantes bread hot buns!

los diamantes arroz seafood rice

boquerones

los diamantes salmoretes fried salmonetes (small red mullet)

los diamantes gambas breaded prawns

los diamantes champi garlicky grilled mushrooms

los diamantes adobo cazón in adobo

los diamantes mixto fritos variados

los diamantes bar

Updated August 2018

Mercado de San Agustín

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

san-agustin [photo by Alfredo Aguilar]

The Mercado de San Agustin is Granada’s principal central food market near the Cathedral. Like a lot of such markets, it has suffered (sadly) a decline in its core business, but has recently begun to re-invent itself. The original 1970s market building (before that San Agustín was an outdoor street market) has been given a major facelift, and a new gourmet section with a number of bars – run by San Agustín Gourmet – have been added to the traditional food stalls.

Unlike many similar places that have opened around Spain, calling themselves markets when they are actually gourmet food courts, San Agustín still functions as a provisions market. In some cases you can purchase fresh items from a stall and have them prepared at one of the new bars, which we did, ordering 300 grams of secreto Ibérico from Conchita the butcher (3€) and for another 3€ Tendido Gourmet grilled it and brought it to our table. But speaking of “tables” this is probably the main negative about the new set up, as there aren’t many places to sit. We were there early on a Wednesday afternoon and had no trouble finding a tall table – handily just outside the Vinoteca – but one of us had to stay there to guard our spot while another went out in search of food. I imagine it would get a bit frustrating trying to do this when the place is packed and the bars and food stalls are all busy. If you just want fried fish and seafood, Bajo de Guía has its own small bar area, though it’s standing room only. For the rest, it’s all take-away and then take your chance finding somewhere to eat either inside the market or outside on the terrace. But overall, a pleasant space to either shop or stop for a beer and a snack.

Plaza San Agustín
Granada
Tel 958 278 279
Mercado San Agustín Website
€ € € €

Food 7 | Wine 8 | Service 6 | Ambiance 7

san agustin (2) san agustin (1) cones of camarones

san agustin (4) san agustin (3) takeaway paella

san agustin (6) san agustin (7) pinchos

san agustin (8) san agustin (9) san agustin (13) puntillitas (baby squid)
san agustin (14) tortillita de camarones

san agustin (15) croquetas de puchero

san agustin (16) grilled secreto Ibérico

san agustin tendido cooking our secreto at Tendido

san agustin (11) san agustin (10) carabineros

san agustin (12)

san agustin (17) conchas finas

san agustin (5)

Cunini

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

cunini

One of Granada’s best known fish and seafood bars (actually a bar in front, and a restaurant in the back, with a terrace outside), Cunini is appropriately located behind the cathedral and Plaza Bib Rambla in the old fish market square. It’s been an institution in Granada as long as anyone can remember, and the bar area in particularly is almost always packed and noisy.

We stopped in late after a bit of a tapeo around town and sampled a couple of the complimentary tapas (lukewarm soggy hake and some “okay” croquetas) so when we ordered a final round of drinks I asked the waiter if we could have something a bit nicer. We were promptly brought a big dish of ensaladilla rusa which was promptly taken away again when I said I couldn’t eat mayonnaise (lies, lies…). But then we were pleasantly surprised by the arrival of some fresh tasty prawns from nearby Motril. So, while we weren’t impressed overall, I think Cunini deserves another visit to try out some of the dishes from the menu.

Plaza Pescadería, 14
Tel 958 267 587
€ € € €

Food 6 | Wine 6 | Service 5 | Ambiance 7

cunini bar area bar area

cunini fritos complimentary fried hake

cunini croquetas complimentary seafood croquetas

cunini gambas complimentary gambas from Motril

cunini gamba hola!

cunini seafood display fish and seafood display

cunini bar the bar

cunini dining dining area

cunini sign

Bar Aliatar Los Caracoles

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

aliatar

Something of a “hit and run” review – really more of a bookmark – as we only stopped here for a cold beer (here being about three quarters of the way up the Albaicín on a hot summer day, which is why we needed the refreshment) on the way to a bar a bit higher up which had been recommended to us by friends. The bar where we were heading, which will remain nameless (oh alright, it was Casa Torcuato) proved a huge disappointment and not worth the extra effort of getting there. In fact we found ourselves wishing we’d stayed at Aliatar, with its outdoor terrace in a pretty square, and exceptionally friendly service. The complimentary sardines that came with our ice cold beer were delicious. I will certainly be back again to try their house speciality, the caracoles (snails). I also hear the octopus is excellent.

Plaza Aliatar 4
Granada
Tel 650 877 353
€ € €

Food 7 | Wine | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

aliatar beer
aliatar sardines

Alameda

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

The Alameda is located just off Plaza del Carmen. The space is very contemporary split-level, with a bar downstairs and a dining area upstairs, with lots of wood and high ceilings and windows that makes it feel both spacious and comfortable. There’s also a small terrace.

Although we’ve been there a few times, we’ve only actually ordered food once (their fabulous oxtail burger with au-juice mayo). The rest of the photos here are their complimenary tapas that come with drinks, which I have to say are probably the best I’ve had in Granada. All-day kitchen from 12.00 pm – 1.00 am.