La Tana

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

I have to say that La Tana is my favourite wine bar in Granada, compact and cosy and festooned with traditional knick-knacks – shelves full of bottles of wine, with a couple of massive jeroboams on the bar, and lots of garlic, tomatoes, sausages hanging on the walls and from the ceiling.

As you’d expect, they have an excellent wine selection, including a local white wine I loved called Mencal (chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, moscatel), and staff are very helpful with recommending wines. The complimentary tapas are delicious, though the lovely subdued lighting means that most of my food pics never turn out here (they tend to be a smaller version of what’s available on the menu – see below). It’s always super busy, so best to get there early.

Rosario, 11
Granada
Tel 958 225 248
€ € €

Food 9 | Wine 10 | Service 9 | Ambiance 9

la tana (3)

la tana (4)

la tana avocado butifarra avocado on toast, butifarra

tomatoes with olive oil, sausage

la tana mencal Mencal from Granada

carne mechada with sundried tomatoes

the menu

la tana (1)

la tana window
la tana (2)

Updated August 2018

Taberna Gamboa

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

After having come here for years, on every stay in Granada, this time was a bit of a disappointment. I’d heard that Taberna Gamboa had changed hands since my last visit, but we were determined to have the hot sizzling gambas pil-pil….

The bar looks the same – it’s quite small and cosy, with a buzzy atmosphere that’s both typical and traditional. It can be a bit of a struggle to get a place at the bar or tables, especially at peak times, also typical of popular bars in Granada. Anyhow, the food. Our gambas pil-pil arrived “unsizzly” in a dish of tepid olive oil, served by a waiter who seemed to be wishing she were somewhere else. We were then joined by friends and tried a couple of the complimentary tapas (meh), and when we decided to have another round of drinks we weren’t brought the usual complimentary tapa. Finally we mentioned this to the waiter, who begrudgingly brought us a plate of cheese. I hope this was just an off day, as I used to really love this place. But friends in Granada say it hasn’t been the same since the change in management. Oh well.

Lepanto 11
Granada
Tel 958 229 237
€ € €

Food 5 | Wine 7 | Service 5 | Ambiance 6

gamboa (2) the bar

chalkboard menu

gamboa tortilla complimentary tortilla (4 people)

gamboa serrano complimentary serrano (4 people)

complimentary rice (2 people)

gamboa flamenquin flamenquín de la casa

stewed pork (complimentary)

gamboa habas complimentary beans with jamón (2 people)

spicy gambas pilpil

complimentary cheese (4 people)

gamboa (5)

gamboa (4)

Updated August 2018

Blanco Enea

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Shawn

blanco enea

Located in the Casa de Galicia, Blanco Enea is both a visual and gastronomic delight. The charming rustic chic “tavern” area on the main floor, and the somewhat more formal dining room upstairs, both have a minimalist style with cool white walls and “galician blue” trim throughout. A few white tables and chairs make up a small terrace out in the square. Owner and chef José María González Blanco was an affable host, taking us on a tour of the premises before we settled into our seats downstairs to sample the more casual tavern menu.

Basically, you want to eat here. I think the food can best be described as traditional Andalusian with a few Galician touches along with some tasty and innovative twists. Definite “must-haves” (and in my case, must-have-agains) are the croquetas of suckling pig & turnip greens (!!!), and the tender octopus “al feira” with a super-silky parmentier.

Also pending is a return visit in the evening to see the patio lit up with long strings of white fairy lights and try the dinner menu upstairs, with a window seat overlooking the square.

Plaza San Pedro 1
Córdoba
Tel 957 10 06 75
€ € € €

Food 9 | Wine 9 | Service 9 | Ambiance 9

blanco enea bar (1) downstairs “taberna”

blanco enea bar (2)

blanco enea (2)

blanco enea croquetas suckling pig & turnip greens croquetas

blanco enea chocos monster fried chocos with mojo de manzana

blanco enea (4) open kitchen facing the patio

blanco enea cochifrita cochifrito with padrón peppers

blanco enea pulpo pulpo a feira with silky parmentier

blanco enea (3)
blanco enea (1)

blanco enea dining (1) upstairs dining room

blanco enea dining (2)

blanco enea terrace terrace

Garum 2.1

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Shawn

Updated September 2015

With a name like Garum 2.1 Bistronomic Tapas Bar it’s a wonder I went in at all. Actually, I had walked in on a couple of occasions during previous visits to Córdoba but didn’t feel inclined to stay. Something about, well, the name. And the outside walls festooned with posters of their “prize winning” tapas. But it kept being recommended to me so I finally decided to give it a go. And I’m happy I did.

Despite its über-hip name the bar is quite traditional on the inside, with dark wooden furniture and slate floors. Not so traditional is the expanse of original Roman wall on one side of the room – quite a cool feature. There is also an upstairs dining area (which I forgot to pop up and see – oops).

The menu offers both tapas and raciones, with the tapas at rather high “bistronomic” prices. Not sure how the larger plates compare in terms of value for money, but the tapas we tried were good quality with some nice innovative touches. I especially liked the TNT potatoes, which lived up to their name. Good service and some very interesting wines on offer. And be sure to try the oxtail churro with chocolate sauce. Really.

San Fernando 120-122
Córdoba
Tel 957 48 76 73
€ € € €

Food 8 | Wine 9 | Service 7 | Ambiance 7

garum dining area (2)

garum roman wall Roman wall

garum cheese complimentary cheese & almonds

garum berenjenas fried aubergine with salmorejo and scrambled eggs

garum pulpo fried hake fried hake

garum px

garum papas tnt potatoes TNT with hot sauce, wasabi and fried chilis

garum presa presa Ibérica with potatoes, scrambled egg, jamón

garum pulpo (1) tender octopus with pig ear

garum pulpo oxtail churro oxtail churro with chocolate sauce

garum dessert mystery dessert! can’t remember what it was…

garum stairs

garum dining area (1)

garum entrance

Updated September 2015

Casa Pepe de la Judería

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Shawn

casa pepe

I can’t believe I am just writing up Casa Pepe for the first time. I’ve actually eaten here a few times in the dining room but it was early days on the blog and, looking back at the photos I took back then, I decided it was better to start fresh. This visit we just stopped in for a couple of (excellent) tapas and had a look around.

Casa Pepe is one of those traditional places which has become a part of the fabric of its locality, with a perfect position at the beginning of the main street leading into the Juderia from the Mezquita. It was founded in 1920 as La Taberna del Triunfo, but owes its name and fame to José Jiménez Aroca (popularly known as Pepe el de la Juderia), who took it over in 1930.

It has now expanded into seven small dining rooms in the traditional style of the building, one larger more modern room on the 2nd floor, and a large rooftop terrace with views of the belltower of the Mezquita. It’s fairly formal, with efficient uniformed waiters and good quality tableware, but still friendly, and reasonably priced. The cuisine is mainly traditional, from cold soups and fried berenjenas to roast meats, including an excellent shoulder of lamb as well as pork dishes. Some nice fish and seafood, too.

Calle del Romero, 1
Córdoba
Tel 957 200 744
Casa Pepe Website
€ € € €

Food 8 | Wine 8 | Service 8 | Ambiance 7

casa pepe (1) tapas area

casa pepe (2)

casa pepe chocos tender chocos with garlicky salsa verde

casa pepe cochifrito slow cooked suckling pig, fried with potatoes

casa pepe plate ummm…

casa pepe (3)

casa pepe (5)

casa pepe (4)

Macsura

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Shawn

macsura

Despite the unfortunate decision to call itself a gastrotaberna (shudder), and the equally unfortunate bread charge, Macsura proved to be a worthwhile stopping place. The name derives from an architectural feature of the Mezquita – it’s the place next to the mihrab, the holiest place in the Mosque, and would be occupied by the Caliph during the services – and the inner part of the dining area is a large alcove set behind a pair of arches in a conceptual imitation of the original. We sat in the bar area, which is light and open with high ceilings.

As this was a second stop of the afternoon, and there are no tapas on the menu, we only tried a couple of dishes: one of the daily specials, pan-fried seasonal wild mushrooms (níscalos) served with raw egg yolks, and crispy fried chocos with a wonderful olive oil mayo. Both were terrific and the wine was good too, but 1.20€ for one tiny bread roll? I was told by the waiter that I should have refused it when he brought it to the table. I suggest you do the same.

Cardenal Gonzalez, 43
Córdoba
Tel 957 486 004
€ € € €

Food 9 | Wine 10 | Service 9 | Ambiance 9

macsura (3)

macsura niscalos pan-fried níscalos with raw egg yolk

macsura chocos breaded chocos with olive oil mayo

macsura (4)

macsura (2)

Bar Santos

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Shawn

Updated February 2017

It’s easy to dismiss Bar Santos as just another of the many touristy bars around the Mezquita, but one look at the impressive display of massive tortillas just inside the door will tell you that you are in for something special. In spite of its location it still manages the look and feel of a little neighbourhood bar with just one table inside and standing room only at the bar.

Their trademark dish, a 30-egg tortilla de patatas, is served by the slice for 2€ and goes great with either a cold beer or a bowl of salmorejo. A typical sight at midday is people sitting along the cathedral wall with plates of tortilla. Makes a great start to a tapeo.

Magistral Gonzalez Francés, 3
Córdoba
Tel 957 48 89 75
€ € €

Food 8 | Wine 7 | Service 8 | Ambiance 8

bar santos bar

bar santos corner

bar santos tortillas (1) 30 eggs & 5 kilos of potatoes in each one

bar santos tortilla slice

bar santos tortilla beer slice of tortilla with beer

bar santos salmorejo salmorejo topped with chopped egg and jamón

the menu

bar santos photos

bar santos tortillas (2)

bar santos founded 1966

Updated February 2017

Balandro

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Shawn

The last few of times I’ve been to Cádiz I’ve passed up on the opportunity to pay a first visit to Balandro, despite the fact that it came recommended and well-reviewed, and seems to be well-frequented, but this time I felt I could no longer evade my responsibilities. In the end, it turned out pretty much as I expected. The U-shaped bar and main dining area are in a slick modern style, and pleasant enough, but seem lacking in real warmth and personality. The staff likewise.

The menu was typical gastrobar – more style than substance – and a menu this long (you order by number) makes me think that there’s bought in, pre-prepared food involved. The tapas we had were good enough, but I didn’t find that “something special” that would bring me back. In the last analysis, if you like this trendy style of “concept” bar, you’ll like Balandro. If, like me, you usually prefer something with more character, this isn’t for you.

Alameda de Apodaca, 22
Cádiz
Tel 956 220 992
€ € € €

Food7 | Wine 7 | Service 6 | Ambiance 6

balandro (3)
balandro filo cheese bacon filo with cheese and bacon

balandro lubina sea bass in “tempura” with rice noodles and stir-fried veg
in a mess of store bought “Asian” sauces.

order-by-number menu

balandro (2)

La Barra

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Shawn

La Barra belongs to the ever-growing Gorki chain of restaurants and is their “market kitchen” bar. It’s in a great location in central Málaga and has a nice terrace on pedestrianised calle Bolsa, as well as seating inside at the bar. There are also a couple of tables at the back which is apparently a dining area. I found this out on my third visit after sitting at a bar table near the front door and almost getting knocked out by a constantly spritzing “air freshener” (not noticable in the area directly in front of the bar). I was moved to a table at the back of the room – really right next to the bar tables – and was charged 1.80€ “table service” for the privilege. So basically, don’t sit there.

If you stop in for a quick tapita at the bar you can enjoy a nice assortment of tasty tapas, prettily presented. Service is professional and efficient, wines are good.

Bolsa 8
Tel 952 22 39 54
€ € € €

Food 6 | Wine 7 | Service 6 | Ambiance 5

la barra bar

la barra pincho pulpo octopus, olive and hot pepper gilda

la barra butter fish with seaweed butter fish with pickled seaweed

la barra presa mostaza grilled presa Ibérica with grainy mustard sauce

la barra (4) octopus mayo salad

la barra pork potatoes grilled pork with potatoes and padrón potatoes

la barra window

la barra tables

La Tintorera

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Shawn

[photo courtesy of the La Tintorera FB page]

Every time we went anywhere in Úbeda we seemed to end up at this fabulous little bar in the centre of the old town for a drink and a snack or two. It’s the brainchild of artist Gerardo Ruiz del Moral Tauste, who also owns and runs Misa de 12, and who is responsible for the interior décor with its cool hanging lights, mirrors and wire sculptures. There’s also a pleasant terrace out on the pedestrianised street.

The staff were top notch, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and Malu made us feel particularly at home. The food we had was all excellent, including a complimentary gluten-free salmorejo with green apple instead of bread, a delish revuelto with calamari and potato straws and an exceptionally good lomo de orzo with potatoes and perfectly fried egg.

If I lived in Úbeda this would certainly be my “local”. Warm and welcoming with terrific food & wine and great staff. Also the most interesting and enjoyable music I’ve heard in a long time (thanks for that Malu!).