Restaurant Reviews

Thanks to those who have submitted the reviews below.  If you would like to add a review to assist the dining choices of our future clients please email your comments to enquiries@golfdelaluz.com.  Please include comments on the following: Location, Ambiance, Food, Drink, Service and Value-for-Money.

Please note that Golf de la Luz Ltd can take no responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of any of the reviews on this page.  Thanks for your contribution!

Peter Brown, a regular visitor to the Eastern Algarve recommends (Sept 2007):

In San Antonio try the Caves, next to the Hotel Guadiano, or Le Captain which is 100m on the left (looking at the marina) – both are local style, reasonably priced and convenient for parking and starting to explore San Antonio.

Alternatively drive west on A22/IP1 one junction, turn off to Monte Gordo, 2km to the N125. The Infante Restaurant is straight across the junction. Nice atmosphere, music, generous portions. Turn right on leaving the restaurant to take you back to VL San Antonio past the beach/Monte Gordo turn off.

Restaurante Coral Playa, La Antilla

t: 0034 959 48 14 06  
w: www.coralplaya.com  
e: coralplaya@terra.es

Close to the hotels and golf course at Islantilla the Coral Playa is a great choice for your lunch or evening dinner.

Although this is not the most refined of dining rooms, the lack of ambiance is more than made up for by the great food, particularly the fish dishes, and the good wine and friendly service.  Little English is spoken here, but that is half the fun of an evening out in a new place!

The Coral Playa offers good value for money and great food.  The swordfish and the dorada in particular are worth having, and the soups and consommes are also excellent.  Worth a visit.

El Cortijo de los Mimbrales, south of El Rocio

t: 0044 959 442 237

This traditional Spanish restaurant and bodega is a great place to wind-down after a round at Dunas de Donana or a visit to El Rocio or the National Park.  Just south of El Rocio on the road toward Matalascanas, the restaurant is a combination of fine-dining and traditional Spanish hospitality.

As is typical in the region, the fish dishes are the speciality of the house, although the traditional local hams and other meat dishes are also excellent.  With crisp white table cloths and lead-crystal glasses the attention to detail on the table is great, but the food and wine are where this restaurant really stands out.  We ordered a 2000 Rioja for €25 to go with our prawn appetiser, and surprising though it may sound, the 2 went together extremely well!

Hake and salt-cod for the 2 main courses were also beautifully prepared and cooked; but if you are a fan of your veggies - don't forget to order them!

Traditional egg-custard type Spanish desserts were a great way to round off a lovely dinner.

The service was good, but quite serious, and in terms of value for money this is not the cheapest restaurant in the region, but it is worth paying for!

El Luciano, Ayamonte

t: 0044 959 47 10 71

This restaurant was recommended to us by an estate agent in Ayamonte - so if you think all estate agents are liars, then think again!

Situated on the ground floor of an anonymous looking apartment block on just south of the harbour in Ayamonte, it was hard to believe that the food was going to be as good as it was. 

You are greeted by a long glass chiller cabinet in the bar area containing the days catch - topped off by some vicious looking lobsters.  The dining room itself is modestly appointed, but has a well-stocked wine cellar attached that you can visit to pick out your tipple.  Also a humidor to keep your after-dinner smoke fresh and ready.

With fresh bread and local pate on the table you are free to choose from the extensive sea-food menu.  This time we chose the Bacalau and Calamares for the main courses preceded by the sardines and gazpacho.  In no area were we disappointed.  All the dishes we were served were excellent and very nicely prepared.

Two things stood out for us in this restaurant - the food and wine of course, but also the fact that the dining room was full of local people enjoying their food - always a good sign.

Retama Restaurant, Isla Canela Beach - recommended by Mr & Mrs Talbot, February 2005

t: 00 34 959 47 74 04

This restaurant, which is next to the Riu Canela Hotel on Isla Canela beach is an excellent choice for all - but particularly for families.  The food is excellent; typical Andalucian fayre, and the staff and service are great.  Most of the staff speak good English.  The restaurant is right on the beach front and also has a good playground for the kids to use.  Highly recommended.

Bar Restaurant La Rana - recommended by Mr & Mrs Talbot, February 2005

t: 00 34 959 47 15 42

The approach to this restaurant is not very promising as it is situated in the "Barrio" area south of the Ayamonte town centre.  However, the seafood served here is superb and the welcome for our 2 families was great.  Very little English is spoken, so take your Spanish phrasebook.  We visited on a Sunday lunchtime and fortunately had booked, but the place was very busy - so do book if you are going at the weekend.

Rana's, Ayamonte - recommended by Michael Loveridge and Susan Brown, July 2005

We were also a little apprehensive as we walked down the road to `Rana’s’. It’s not the most elegant approach road, and the restaurant’s a long way removed from the crisp white table cloths and lead-crystal glasses of other more upmarket establishments – which is one of the reasons we liked it so much!

We sat outside, and were soon offered tomato salad and excellent bread by the woman who appeared to be the boss – perhaps Rana herself? We were vaguely waiting for a menu, but she beckoned us over to a fairly antiquated chill counter to show us her selection of fresh fish.

No doubt misinterpreting our natural English diffidence for a lack of enthusiasm, she then whisked a splendid turbot from the cabinet, and placed its nose approximately an inch from mine. I gave what I hoped was the crisp sniff of the connoisseur, nodded (carefully) my approval and grinned inanely, thereby provoking her to repeat the performance with equally splendid specimens of dorado, bass and red mullet.

Having selected our fishes and returned to our seats I suddenly realised we still hadn’t seen a menu, and had no idea how much the bill was going to be. It’s probably a great tribute to Rana that it didn’t bother me for a moment. This was clearly a place where the diners were guests first and customers second.

We ordered a bottle of wine – by now, the spirit of Rana would have made asking for a wine list positively offensive – and agreed that this approach certainly removed the angst of dithering over which starter to have, or whether to skip the starter and go for the pudding, and if you’re having meat we’ll need a bottle of red, or should we just buy it by the glass…etc etc.

A small kitten then made the first of several appearances by our table leg. She mewed discreetly, just enough to let us know that she was in attendance and would not be unduly offended if we were to offer her a choice morsel.

And then our fishes arrived – what joy! Accompanied by the simplest of veggies, they didn’t nestle in anything, they weren’t drizzled with anything and I’m afraid there was no discernible jus either – perfect.

We shared a simple but delicious sorbet, and even the obligatory glass of the local hooch to finish left us able to breathe without assistance.

We lingered quite happily until well after midnight, and Rana, who had worked her calcetines off all the time we’d been there, finally came and sat outside with her regulars. After several attempts, we finally persuaded her to let us have our bill, and I must admit this did come as quite a shock - €45 in total! As a combination of quality and price we agreed this was quite possibly the best value meal we’ve ever had, anywhere.

But I’m sad to report there was one disappointed customer – our friendly kitten would have found very little to salvage from our plates!