El Tres is the newest venture of the Gorki Group, which has several differently-themed restaurants and bars in Málaga. El Tres is their “classic haute cuisine” spot and local chef Rosa Serrano has created a menu that blends Spanish, Basque and French influences.
The restaurant in smack in the centre of Málaga and is tastefully decorated with a small terrace outside. Aside from the regular menu there are a couple of tasting menus available, which seem to be good value for money. As I was with four serious foodie friends we opted to order several media raciones from the a la carte menu and share them (tapas style!). It was a fun way to try what appealed to us rather than sticking to a set tasting menu. My favourites were the smoked eel terrine, octopus & rabbit smoked rice, and crispy skin cochinillo.
Service was terrific and we enjoyed a few wines from the very well thought out list. It was an altogether lovely experience sharing great food with dear friends. Only downer was getting our bill and finding a 2.50€ PER PERSON “service charge”… 12.50€ for the five of us. What? When will restaurants get that they should factor in these fixed costs (napkins, table cloths… toilet paper?) and not tackily tack them on after the end of an already pricey meal. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Strachan 7
Málaga
Tel 952 223 364
€ € € € €
Food 9 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 7
amuse-bouche (can’t remember what it was…)
porra Antequera with jamón & chopped egg
smoked eel terrine with Williams pear compote
José Pariente verdejo
crispy cooked mixed veg with a velouté of creamy jamón
line-caught hake in salsa verde with clams and confit potatoes
monkfish wrapped in cured pork cheek with crab cream and artichokes
octopus & rabbit smoked rice
cochinillo with crispy skin and apple confit
Galician beef tartare prepared at our table, served with crispy veg & chips
squab with carrot purée and toasts topped with its livers
octopus, olive and hot pepper gilda
butter fish with pickled seaweed
grilled presa Ibérica with grainy mustard sauce
octopus mayo salad
grilled pork with potatoes and padrón potatoes
boquerones fritos
chocos fritos
puntillitas (tiny squid)
[photo courtesy of the 
ensaladilla (complimentary)
gluten-free salmorejo substituting green apple for bread (complimentary)
revuelto with calamares and potato straws (complimentary)
Malu with local Spiritu Santo EVOO
bric-wrapped spicy chorizos on potato purée (complimentary)
beer made with sea water
cheese empanadilla with raisins in port (complimentary)
wok-fried chicken & veggies with noodles
lomo de urza (pork loin confit) with egg and potatoes
top team Malu & Pedro
cold beers on the terraza
[photo courtesy of the La Imprenta website]
grilled sausage and pimiento (complimentary)
creamy hummus with jamón
traditional salmorejo (complimentary)
cured sheep cheese from Salamanca
fabulous olive oil for our bread
lomo de orzo (complimentary)
cabrales croquetas (complimentary)
flamenquín
presa Ibérica
the bar
chalkboard menu
“tigre” with prawn bread and Iberian cuts (complimentary)
calamar & prawn burger in squid ink bun with seaweed alioli
crispy chicken thighs with herb yoghurt sauce (complimentary)
pipirrana with bacalao, smoked evoo, tapenade
presa Ibérica with mushroom sauce
the “dining car” restaurant
jam-packed bar
fritos variados
a very nice albariño
langostinos a la plancha (complimentary)
Cantabrian anchovy with evoo (complimentary)
boquerones fritos (complimentary)
battered prawns (complimentary)
José pouring beer
mojama (cured tuna) with evoo and peanuts (complimentary)
fried rejos – baby octopus tentacles (complimentary)
tilapia, a type of sole, with padrón peppers (complimentary)
chocos fritos (complimentary)
Ricardo using manzanilla spray on fried rosada (complimentary)
smoked salmon (complimentary)
grilled scallop with barely cooked prawns and salmon
grilled carabineros (not ours)
mixed seafood platter (not ours)
orujo (complimentary)
Dream Team: José, Rachel & Ricardo
the red duck
busy buzzy bar
dining area
Founded in 1886, La Manchega offers a variety of typical tapas and specialises in Iberian charcuterie products and traditional stews. When I walked in I thought I would have a quick tapa and leave, but when I asked if I could take some photos (always best to ask first) Cristobal the barman got very chatty, telling me about the history of the bar, about Jaén, and then an old guy at the end of the bar, who turned out to be the owner, asked if I wanted to see downstairs. But of course!
stews
papas alioli
carne en salsa
migas
salchichas with chips
Wandered in here (or tried to) the first afternoon I was in Jaén, but it wasn’t quite open yet – even though there seemed to be several regulars inside – so my friend and I moved on. The next day I passed by again and I swear those same guys were in there. But this time it was officially open so I sat at the bar and tried a couple of tapas. Some fabulous cheese and a very good stewed meat dish (cannot remember what it was, other than delicious).
meat! very good (complimentary)
delicious cheese (complimentary)
Bea and owner Antonio
