Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

I have posted this on the Portugal thread and not had one reply, but there is a similar thread going on inside the Costa Esuri one and it prompts me to ask again. Can anyone recommend any restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva. We like to lunch, usually have the prato do dia and in Portugal spend about €20 for two with the house wine. We go to Spain quite often but have never found a really memorable place to eat. We don't eat meat but eat fish, but the fish is often fried in some rather dubious tasting oil. We're looking for something fresh and simple.

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

If you don't like your fish swimming in oil, then forget this part of Spain. It amazes me that with the wealth of fish available from this coast that restaurants manage to completely kill the taste by drowning it in oil. A friend has a great restaurant but I wouldn't touch his fish - and I've told him - because not only does it get served with the oil it was cooked in, he has a seperate jug of oil which he pours over just before the plate goes out.

Also, €20 for two with wine will not give you a memorable meal - unlees you count the loo!!!! You can try some of the spit and sawdust places around the ports in Rompido, Isla Cristina, Punta Umbria - whilst you may get a passable meal, there's nothing really that will knock your socks off. I can give you plenty of places that do the Menu del Dia for €6-9 per person with house wine (and please remember, the house wine in a Spanish restaurant is rarely what you might expect of a house wine in other countries as it is often little better than Don Simon cartons - why do you think they a) chill it [to kill taste] and b) give you 'casera' soda to dilute it)

Give yourself a budget of €50 and you should get what you are looking for. Machequito in Islantilla Centro Comercial, Canalejas in Aljaraque, Meson Macias in Ayamonte, Lepe & Villablanca (but this is mainly meat), La Sal in Isla Cristina (probably the best at this present time).

My advice, if you want a really, really good meal, go along the Algarve coast. Whenever there's a puente/long weekend and people come down from Madrid, Extremadura etc, the restaurants between the bridge and Tavira are mobbed with Spanish people - quite a telling sign I'd say.

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

Thanks for that, it rather bears out our experience, but I thought that maybe we just don't look for the right signs. We live in Tavira and find that we are often disappointed in Spain. We like to go there for a day, Leroy Merlin, Hiperlampadas (sp?) etc. and then the coast around Punta Umbria which is beautiful, but the food has never wowed us.

€50 is about our celebration price meal and I'm not sure I would have risked Spain at that price, but with a recommendation I might, thanks. Near us there is a restaurant with an orangerie that does a taster menu €45 for five courses, chose meat, fish or vegetarian, and an extra €10 or so for a glass of the chefs recommended wine with each course. This is going to be my next extra special treat meal!

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

We often pop over to Tavira for a meal which one is this and whereabouts is it?

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

There's a great restaurant near you - basic and can put some Brits off - that specialises in suckling pork from mid/north of Portugal called La Barriada (which is the name given to that area of Portugal too) and it is on the old road to Faro just outside Tavira (if memory serves it is on the right as you are coming from Vila Real and it is more towards the that side of Tavira not the Faro side)

Great suckling pig made in the huge clay oven - they don't have much else on the menu, and Sundays and holidays it is advised getting there early as it can get rammed!! (that pun would work if it was suckling lamb!!)

If they do have a white from the Barriada region, ask for a very dry one and you won't be disappointed. Otherwise the BSE from the Fonseca vineyard is a pleasing substitute

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

It's called Quinta do Monte near Moncarapacho on the way from the Olhao exit from the motorway- I don't own it, I wish I did!!

It's smart rather than casual dress, unusual for around here, but very special.

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

This might help - it's the restaurant guide from The Oracle

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

Hola!
There is a restaurant in Moguer (just east of Huelva) which was closed when we visited (on a Monday). It is called "La Parrala", and it looks/sounds good from the reviews. It is located on the Plaza Monjas. Menu: Seafood (not all fried), homemade desserts, etc... Has anyone been?
There is another website called El rincon del golf (zyworld) with a list of restaurants closer to the border with Portugal.
Regards,
Carol

Re: Restaurants between Ayamonte and Huelva
 

The one thing that is missing is a quality place to eat, I'm not saying there are not good places because there are, but most tend to offer the same!!!

We went to Annies Bar on Friday night, formally Ja's on Playa Canela, what superb restaurant food but with bar prices and offer both Spanish and non Spanish food.

PS. I have no financial interest in this bar!!!