Calle de la Alameda de Andalucia, 32
Antequera
Tel 952 841 607
€ € €
Food 5 | Wine 6 | Service 6 | Ambiance 7
This was something of a tale of two visits. On my first morning in Antequera, arriving on an early train from Sevilla with a friend, we came here for breakfast as it came highly recommended by my Twitter pals @PolloyEnsalada. And we weren’t disappointed. This seems to be their forte, the place was busy, and we had one of those great typical Andalusian breakfasts – traditional Antequera molletes with serrano ham, olive oil and tomato, and a “tapa” of churros with hot chocolate (love that in this part of the country you order churros by the “circle”).
On the second evening we came back for tapas, with mixed results. The tapas menu was, shall we say, limited, and even some of those were not available. Then our first order of “secreto al ajillo” was so bad it had to be sent back, and we were debating whether to stay. Full marks at this point to the waiter, who persuaded us to try the gambas al ajillo (actually langostinos), which turned out to be very good, and they also made my friend a nice bocadillo for his journey home that night.
two rondas of churros
mollete with (lots of!) serrano ham and tomato
the bar
secreto al ajillo – as disgusting as it looks
sizzling king prawns al ajillo – much better
stewed pluma Ibérica
churrasco a la parrilla
grilled chorizo criollo
secreto Ibérico
breaded secreto Ibérico
garlicky grilled presa Ibérica
albóndigas en salsa
stewed pork tongue
flamenquín
grilled paleta Ibérica
tender stewed abanico Ibérico in PX sauce
grilled presa Ibérica
Alfonso pouring beers
bar area
dining area
pig parts
Best. Beertaps. Ever.
amontillado and manzanilla fina
olorosos
amontillado fino
owner Pepe
venenciador
Cantabrian anchovy and jamón Iberico
chalkboard menu
Andreea, Soraya & Ana
complimentary starter of lentils and chorizo
almond encrusted Iberian pork with potato purée and almond sauce
the crujiente Ibérico sliced open
huevos a la flamenca
toasted country bread with garlic olive oil, fresh tomato and jamón
scrambled eggs (revuelto) with bacalao and red peppers
gambas “de la casa” with onions, green peppers, jamón
presa Ibérica with jamón and frites
chef Borja (right) with his family
the bar
cazón in adobo (marinated dogfish) and chocos (cuttlefish)
los fritos
puntillitas (tiny squid)
there’s a second location on the causeway,
take-away section
entrance
open kitchen
jamón and setas croquetas
tuna tempura with tomato, parmesan & oregano sauce
chicharrones de Cádiz with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes
mixed green salad with tempura sardines, parmesan,
veggie tempura with soy mayo
wagyu burger
grilled beef platter
Santiago, Pejie, co-owneres Carmen & Victor, Carmen, Lourdes
window seat
dining area
Sunday diners
the menu
chocos fritos
fino Valeroso Grant
breaded mero (grouper) with chips
Over the years Cafe Royalty has become our official merienda (a kind of Spanish High Tea) stop for coffee, dessert and cocktails. The Royalty is certainly unique, describing itself as the only historically preserved grand romantic café in Andalucia, and with its ornate gilt plasterwork, painted ceilings and early 20th century furnishings it looks the part, and would not be out of place in Paris or Vienna.
apple strudel with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream
picatostes gaditanos – a house speciality
cava “benjamín”
Irish coffees
massive G & T
deep-fried aubergines with honey
cod and vegetables on toasts
three kinds of salmorejo
chicken with tabouleh
duck confit couscous
falafel
grilled tuna ventresca with sesame seeds
violet, rose and green tea ice creams
